HUGH Dancy‘s new movie “Adam” is getting good reviews. So how might nifty-looking fancy Dancy gear up to play one suffering with Asperger’s syndrome, the neuro logical disorder similar to autism?

“I actually only had limited time, six weeks, in which to prep,” he said. “So you just put your head down and go. I first did all the reading about it I could find. Then I researched it on the Internet. When I thought I knew enough I sat down with those afflicted, and there’s an infinity of different types. Many talked about their lives and were very expressive.”

Seeing the VIPs coming to the screening of his Brooks Brothers-hosted movie, he smiled: “You know, I started out in London. A smaller weaker version of whatever I am today, I did one job — an adaptation of “David Copperfield” — that brought me here. Eighty percent of our business is luck. This movie is a prime example. A year and a half ago I went to some tiny walk-up place for a read-through of it. The assumption was it’s a low-budget indie. And now this glamorous evening. It’s like ringing the bell at Nasdaq.”

One belle he’s been ringing these last years, his longtime love Claire Danes, was there in a gorgeous clingy, floor-length, white silk job you could die for. They’ve worked to keep the romance quiet. Arriving together in a black limo, she waited in the car so as not to take any attention away from him while he, the star of the movie, walked out first and collected the limelight and photographs.

Talking about his early days, I asked what he did with the first big money he earned.

“Paid off my Oxford student loans. Plus a few other bills I owed.”

Talking about these heady days: “I still consider myself a Londoner but I love living in New York. I won’t knock Los Angeles. It’s been good to me, but it’s a one-industry town and isn’t conducive to anybody getting excited about anything. It’s constrictive. You never walk anywhere. I have a friend staying over who begged me to let him run out for groceries just so he could feel what it’s like to walk around a city.”

OK. Enough small talk. He and Claire Danes ever going to get married?

Hugh grinned and said: “Yes. We are. That I tell you absolutely.” Then: “But I won’t tell you how soon.”

Doesn’t have to. It’s before the end of the year. In fact, within the next couple of months. Kiddies, Mother knows.

SO Heather Graham, who’s in “The Hangover,” says events unexpec tedly handed her some affinity for the role. Seems a recent boyfriend even more recently left her. Not the nicest experience, and she admits the follow-up depression caused her to drown those sorrows a bit. So, being a good actress, what she did was reference all that for the role. To me, it sounds like such a nice story. At least this crumb bum could be used for something good.